What does Ritardando mean?

Answer 1

From the Harvard dictionary of Music: poco means ' little', and ritardando means

"gradually lackening in speed' ( or, slowing down ).

SO,it means a small--not very much- slowing up of the tempo.

Answer 2

It is a musical term (in Italian) that means to slow down gradually an is often used at the end of a phrase or piece. It is usually abreviated Rit.